Endangered tree frog bred for the first time

The outlook is grim for amphibians with nearly one third of the world's species at risk of extinction. But there's a bit of good news: a critically endangered frog species has just been bred in captivity for the first time.

The La Loma tree frog is notoriously difficult to breed but the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project recently managed the tricky feat. "We were warned that we might not be able to keep these frogs alive, but through a little bit of guesswork, attention to detail and collaboration with other husbandry experts - we've managed to breed them," says Brian Gratwicke, the international coordinator for the project.

Frogs continue to be plagued by a fungal disease called chytridiomycosis which is contributing to their decline (see video above). The project is giving some hope as they also successfully bred another endangered species, the Limosa harlequin frog (see photo below). It hopes to save more than twenty species of frogs in Panama, one of the last strongholds of amphibian biodiversity in the world.